Not a book about ultrarunning, but I think that it will interest a lot of you.

Hello

About me:-

I am a  UK Senior Citizen , with  a long and strong family connection to athletics going back into the 19^th Century .  A former  track athlete , Rugby player , Health and Fitness Professional , I  commenced coaching from the late 1950s and gained a Diploma in Physical Education (1964) along the way followed by , firstly the Amateur Athletic Association (1969) Honorary Coaching Award  , then since 1972 have  held the British Amateur Athletic Board accreditation as a Senior Sprints Coach ; I produced  several works on athletics skills and conditioning , including the widely acknowledged  “Sprinting and Relay Racing”, I  was co-architect  of the Body-Tec System of physiological assessment used in fitness testing  leading European and Commonwealth Gold Medalists .  In the early 1980s  I  was invited to be interviewed for the position of National Athletics Coach .

The Northern Council for Sport and Recreation made use of my knowledge and ability in production of the Regional Recreational Strategy 1981 and  , also in the ‘80s  , I  was  consulted  on   behalf of  The Sports Council in regard to Coaching / Teaching / Instructing for National Vocational Qualifications

I am trying to announce   my  recently   published book (synopsis below) and have included a copy  of a locally circulated poster, and I wonder if you could see fit to announce the availability of the book on the Ultra Legends website?

I suppose that you would not class marathon as exactly Ultra but as an ancient sprint coach it’s a hell of a long way !  I think  your site visitors would be interested in my book .

Sincerely ,

Ray Hewson

Synopsis:

“Dalton’s Marathon Man – From Iron Ore To Gold”

(Ray Hewson 2010)

Arthur Preston (1879 – ) a truly historic but until now unrecognized name in the annals of the marathon race  . This third Son of Lancashire Iron Ore Miner Roger Preston and his Wife Elizabeth , one of  a family of nine boys and one girl , was to become a class athlete but it would take 101 years for this fact to be acknowledged .

“Dalton’s Marathon Man – From Iron Ore To Gold”  (Ray Hewson 2010)

Tells the story of a Lancashire man , born in the latter quarter of the 19^th Century , emigrating at the age of 26 to South Africa , already a fine athlete in both amateur and professional events , an iron ore miner , an adventurer , eventually a gold miner  , who turned out to be one of the best marathon runners in the World ( arguably the best ) and whose exploits , because of his choice to run as a professional athlete , have been ignored by an athletics “fraternity” that chose not to acknowledge the achievements of such athletes  -  largely due to the fear , widespread during the period which this story covers , that to recognize them would entice “amateurs” of the day to follow in their footsteps .  Many , of course did !

In the land of  the  Springbok  he competed over varying distances , but  it was in March 1909 in Johannesburg  that  he produced two historic marathon wins – the subject matters of this book .

Related are the many factors with which the runners in those and similar races  had to contend ;  read about aspects such as the effects of altitude as related by Jack Daniels , PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Wisconsin and altitude consultant for a U.S. Olympic Track and Field team ; the opinions expressed by acknowledged leading authorities on marathon David E. Martin PhD and Roger W.H. Gynn regarding the one hundred years of experience from which modern Marathon exponents benefit due to the pioneering efforts of Arthur Preston and his like who experimented and learned by the doing .

Arthur Preston was  obviously in the upper echelon of the participants , on a World – wide basis, in the Marathon during his career . He was certainly one of the very best in the World in his day – but it’s taken 101 years to recognise his  talent . Of that there can be little  doubt  !

101 YEARS LATE !

“Dalton’s Marathon Man – From Iron Ore To Gold”

By Ray Hewson

(Author of the widely acknowledged “They Could Catch Pigeons”, “Sprinting & Relay Racing” and “Let’s All Go Down The Strand”)

Dalton’s Marathon Man .. the Arthur Preston story…in his day arguably the best marathon runner in the World…..a notion until now unrecognised ! Foreword by Peter Wood (South Africa)

Available strictly to order.

Book format UK £9.99 inc. CD-Rom format UK £6.00 inc.

Abroad £12.00 inc. Via Airmail   Abroad £7.00 inc. Via Airmail

Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf)

Order from:-   M. Hewson ,   2, Cumbria View , Walney Island, Barrow in Furness , Cumbria , LA14 3HP, England .

Cheques payable to M. Hewson .

Enquiries to :- Penbloc@aol.com

Tags: England, Marathon, South Africa

The 1993 London to Brighton Road Race
(by Kevin Tiller)
Me and my lovely wife, Dawn, were planning a trip to the UK to visit relatives and friends – our first trip back since coming out to Oz almost 4 years ago. We picked September for no particular reason and booked our plane tickets. I then thought that as we were over there we might as well look for a race to run. I’d vaguely remembered the London to Brighton being on at vaguely that time of year. Some investigations turned up with the date of 3rd October. Our tickets out were for the 2nd but this was easily changed till the 4th. “Contacts” managed to get an entry form to me, which was sent back to the UK before the deadline and I was in !
1993 saw me running just about as much distance as I my body could stand, whilst still keeping some speed work in there. I ran 6 standard marathons or ultras in the months preceding the race as well as short stuff including a 10Km pb of 36:06, a 1:21 half marathon and a 2:49 marathon in late August just before my departure. I was well impressed with this form and knew that I was in shit-hot shape. My training of at least 100Km a week, but most often 120-130 Km with a high of about 160Km since the previous December had paid off handsomely.
After my 2:49 I caught a bad cold, moved house and went to UK and spent 4 weeks dashing up and down the country with heaps of late nights. My steady routine had been decimated and in the 4 weeks prior to the race I ran about 5 or 6 times, mostly with my coming-backfrom-injured wife. My longest run was for 2 hours the Monday before the race !
The morning of the race dawned dark and cold (as it was England). I picked up my race number and bought a T-shirt in a small backstreet around the corner from Big Ben. I had a poo in a corner of a car park (that’s for Dale Thompson but the rest of you won’t be interested). Most of the runners looked like 50 or 60 year old poms who wouldn’t even make a standard 42Km marathon, let alone double that. Walked. around the corner and up the road a bit. At 6:59am some mounties stopped the traffic and close to 150 runners jumped the barricades and prepared for the off.
We started on the 7:00am chimes from Big Ben and I had trouble running slowly (as usual) – I ran with the lead group through the first few miles before easing off slightly to make 10 miles (16Km), around Croydon, in 11th place in 1:07:47. I was running with a few fast South Africans and a couple of Botswanans. They had flew in on the Friday to run on the Sunday and fly home again on the Monday ! Alf Field, President of the Striders appeared briefly by the roadside to take a photo and then buggered off quickly. (Was I hallucinating ?). I continued, anyway, and slowed down a bit and made 20 miles (32Km) at Redhill in 17th place in 2:23:44.
By now the sun was up. I’d been in England 4 weeks and it had literally rained every day but one. Today was a stinker. Just my luck. My support crew would have been a big disaster, had not my wife
been there and knew exactly how to look after me. My father drove and thought initially all he had to do was drive to Brighton to pick me up. I said that he had to stop and give me drink and bananas and cheer me on. He thought every 10 miles would be OK until I said that every 2 was more to the point ! My mother-in-law came along to watch this peculiar form of self-destruction occur before her eyes and as it turned out she probably came away the most satisfied…

I estimate the marathon mark flashed by in about 3hrs 10mins, and 30 miles in 3:48:06. I had now slipped back to 25th place. There was a reason for this – my legs had seized up and I could barely stand up let alone run. My Dad shouted out “Hey Key, have you passed anyone yet ? They all seem to be going past you !”. I answered truthfully “Yep, there was a Botswanan lying back there on the kerb. He’s a goner”. Anyway, it turned out he was the only one I passed all day. All the old codgers came past just like there was no tomorrow.
It felt lonely out there, but I could always see a few other runners ahead and there were more than enough running by, and they were a friendly bunch although no-one got much more than a grunt from me. The support vehicles yelled out their support as we leap-frogged each other. Hell, it was actually quite a nice day and we went through quite a few sleepy English villages. Although the roads weren’t closed to traffic, cars were never a problem.
Being a Strider, I continued to try my hardest and slog it out but I must confess to gross failure – I walked before I’d even dropped dead, just around the 40 mile mark in 5:29:40, a distant 34th which was a long- way from the front of the pack by now. This bodily breakdown was probably due to my enthusiastic starting pace and I was now running exactly how Dawn had predicted about 15 miles back ! I scanned every horizon for each and every 5 mile mark. Five miles is a long way to run for a cup of water and a slice of orange but at least I could convince myself I was that bit closer to THE END.
The last half of the course is surprisingly hilly. Even the race director had said “hilly” knowing he could not get away with that old trick-word “undulating”. The worst was yet to come, the 50 mile mark being on top of a hill, the highest point in the race. It was called Ditchling Beacon (part of the poorly-named South Downs). We’d been warned of this prior to the start, for it was a mother and it went up, uP and UP ! There were quite a few supporters here, as the view was good, and you could be guaranteed to see some real basket-cases coming up the road. I made the top in 7:27:45 for 41st spot and was told the other classic lie which I didn’t ever believe, not even for one minute : “It’s all downhill from here, mate”. I looked up, said nothing and shuffled off. Down the road I nearly wept. “If that’s true then why can’t I see the sea yet ? Why is there another valley and WHY DOES THIS ROAD GO OVER THAT F’ING HILL OVER THERE !!!”
Years and years of Sunday morning 30Ks came into their own as by now my brain was so fried by the sun and the rest of my body was so wretched and torn that I did the only thing I knew how: I huffed and I puffed and I shuffled and staggered all the way to the top of the next hill. From here, I could see the sea and it was a lovely blue and I could see the road and it was down all the way and I shuffled as fast as my little legs could damn well carry me.
I screeched down the road into Brighton and headed towards the sea as if nothing could stop me; everyone yelling out “Good on Ya”, “Come on Aussie” and then I turned the corner to hear “Kevin Tiller.. Sydney Striders” and then I stopped and I didn’t even care about the time anymore or my position because it was all over and I had finished. I could stop running. I couldn’t sit down because my legs were all done in but at least I could stop.

Male Results

1. Stephen Moore 6.07.22

2. Russel Crawford 6.11.49

3. Stewart Peacock 6.17.39

Female Results:
1.    Carolyn Hunter-Rowe Pudsey AC (UK)    6:34:10
2.    Hilary Walker    Serpentine RC (UK)    7:23:36
3.    Patricia Bonner    Finch Coasters (UK)    10:04:53 (u n of f icial)
Notes:
1.    Total race distance is 55 miles (88Km).
2.    Carolyn Hunter-Rowe had recently won the World 100Km championship in Belguim and Hilary Walker had just set the course record of running from Lhasa to Kathmandu (approx 14 days). I was well impressed by this.
3.    Hilary hosted an overseas runners’ get-together the Friday evening before the race at her house just a stone’s throw from Harrods. South Africans outnumbered all other nationalities put together.
4.    The official time limit is 9hrs 30mins but you can unofficially finish after this as long as you don’t complain if you get run over. You can’t complain if this happens before 9hrs 30mins either. Official finishers in 1993 numbered 79.
5.    Entry forms are available from John Legge, 21 Station Road, Digswell, Welwyn, Herts, AL6 ODU, England. Telephone (043) 871 6508.
Race date is 1st Sunday in October (approx), closing date is likely to be around 1st week of September and it costs £15.

Tags: England, Ultralegends

Tags: England, Ultralegends

Hi Phil,

Find attached a review of the Arthur Newton book.

The book gives many insights into the develop of the history of the sport -
the comment has been made, “Newton made the Comrades, and the Comrades made
Newton” – and of course he also encouraged the revival of the London to
Brighton as well.

Percy Cerruty was a good friend of Newton’s as was Mike McNamara – both
members of AURA’s Hall of Fame.  The book will give new insights into the
lives of both men, particularly McNamara and also his partner, Herb Hedeman
[yet another Hall of Famer]

I hope the Ultralegends is able to publish the  review of the book. It would
be
good for Ultra runners and enthusiasts  to be able get a good insight into
the development of
the sport – Newton’s role in many ways was pivotal in the way it developed.
He pioneered
the 100 miles on the road, thus opening the way for the modern trail 100
milers.

He organised and won the first of the modern 24 hour races in Hamilton in
1931, thus creating
the vital stepping stone between the pedestrians and the post-war sport. He
then encouraged the
organisation of the  first modern track 24 hour to break his record – and
the rest is history.

His writings inspired the post-war generation of ultrarunners who used his
training ideas. Professor Tim Noakes, who writes the
Foreward in the book, bases much of his monumental book on marathon and
ultra training, Lore of Running,
on the basics laid down by Newton.

Feel free to use this email as well as Ian Champion’s review to make as many
people as possible aware of the book.
An easy read, it is accessible to those whose first language is not English.

Best,

Andy

On sale from 10^th August 2009

‘Tea With Mr Newton’ – 100,000 Miles the longest ‘Protest March’ in history

by Rob Hadgraft

Published by Desert Island Books

Foreword by Prof. Tim Noakes (author of ‘Lore of Running’)

224-page illustrated hardback

ISBN 978-1-905328-64-2   Price £18.99

Order from: www.desertislandbooks.com or

Amazon.co.uk, on or after 10^th August, or Pre-order now via any bookshop

“At last the definitive biography of the late truly great ARTHUR NEWTON.

Arthur Newton a ‘self-taught’ runner became an ‘ultra-distance’ running legend.   In his later years he became guru to many international runners who were happy to ‘take tea’ with him at his home in Ruislip, London.   He was a very modest and private man.  He always avoided publicity and often never revealed physical or medical injury problems he had during his competitive years.   Some of his private life he does mention in his books but now at last we have a far more detailed version.   It makes fasinating reading.

After very lengthy and detailed research, experienced author Rob Hadgraft launches his fourth book about a ‘running legend’.   He reveals many previously ‘unpublished’ facts about his every day life style, relevant to his training and racing.  He also records previously little known or published reports on some of the events Arthur took part in as well as illustrations.

I recommend this as a very readable book and a ‘must have’ read for anyone with any ‘historical’ interest in the people and the races which have made up our chosen sport of ‘road-running’ ”.

Ian Champion (Road Runners Club Chairman

Tags: England, Ultra legends

Original article from New York Times on December 5th, 1912

Note in the New York Times about George Littlewood dying of consumption in 1912.

Tags: England, Pedestrianism

http://www.dunwoody1000mile.com/

At 2.20pm on Friday 10^th July, Richard Dunwoody completed his ‘1000 Mile Challenge’ having walked day and night for 42 days one mile every hour for 1000 consecutive hours.
He was joined for the last mile by racing legend Lester Piggott (pictured) and together they passed the winning post in front of packed stands on Newmarket Racecourse.
Where as Captain Barclay undertook the challenge for a 1000 Guineas bet, Richard completed the challenge to raise money for four charities – Racing Welfare, the Alzheimer’s Society, Sparks and Spinal Research. Bookmaker Paddy Power recreated the bet and will donate the sum of £10,000 to the Charity Trust.
The challenge has so far raised in excess of £100,000 but more is hoped for and needed and donations can be made via this website.
Richard said:
“I undertook this challenge to raise as much money as I could for the charities but I had absolutely no idea that I would receive this level of support. It’s been great that so many people have got involved and I have been both humbled and inspired by this. There are so many people that I need to thank – the team who have looked after me, the Bedford Lodge Hotel who have housed and fed me, and our partners, in particular Godolphin, Darley, Barclays, Paddy Power, Nike and the Jockey Club. It is an experience I shall never forget, although I’m looking forward to getting a little bit of sleep now!”

Tags: 1000 miles, England

Edward Weston’s 3100 mile walk

Edward Weston – A famous walker

Edward Weston 5000 mile walk – 1884

Tags: England, Pedestrianism, Ultra history

From The Advertiser – 14 September , 1908

Tags: England, Pedestrianism, Ultra history

From The Argus – 15 Nov 1924

Tags: England, Ultra history, Ultrarunning